Monday, January 11, 2010

Firsts

(I had no idea that Orlando Florida could EVER be 26 degrees. )Photo at start-5:30am

First time I have ever had the privilege of hanging out with a bunch of adoptive moms all at once - SO FUN

First time I've ever been part of such a amazing TEAM effort

First Marathon that started in the pitch black darkness

First marathon with fireworks at the start

First time I have run 26.2 without my sister

First time I have run 26.2 with so many friends

First time I have been with a fellow-runner pumping breastmilk on the way to a race in the car

First time I have been in a small Honda with seven people (and a breast pump) - traveling Haiti-style in Orlando, Florida no less

First time volunteers needed to warn you about ice on the ground as you approached the water stations- or ice in the glass of water

First time I've run without my family there to hug along the route (I missed you!)

First time I have ever experienced a miracle healing - my bad spot on my left leg was fine - the same leg that did not allow me to run one block (let alone 26 miles) just ten days ago

First time I found Disney's silly mottos to be a tad bit annoying. "Where dreams come true" - Uh yes, if your dream is to spend a fortune on a hotdog or to run a marathon mostly in their parking lots - sure - in that case - dreams come true

First time I have ever been in America and had no energy to shop

First time I am CERTAIN that we were lied to about the finish line - the last mile seemed like it would never end

First time I have ever been allowed a 55 pound bag by American Airlines for no charge

First time I have ever been given a medal so large it is too embarrassing to show anyone, let alone wear - the fastest runner on earth probably has much smaller medals

First time I have ever run that many hours and minutes in a row - slower finish means longer total time in motion

First time I have ever flown back into Haiti without any sense of sadness or heaviness - I guess three days is the right length trip to America - more than that just makes you miss the people you love way more

Also ...

Second time I have been to Orlando in the last decade - still amazed that there is a need for that many hotel rooms - and -

Third time in 12 months that I have left Troy alone in Haiti with all the baby girls (third time he totally owned that situation - but only because he is the bomb-dad-diddly) - and -

Fourth time I said "Thank God that is over - I'll never do that again."

Done and Done. Thank you for helping us buy our Ambulance - we get to go order it next week!

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Who we are...

To Reach Us: Livesayfamily@gmail.com - We live, learn, love, & work in Port au Prince, Haiti. In the 13 years we've been here, one thing we've learned: God is not made manifest in our ability to "fix" or heal, but in our need to be healed. Recognizing this weakness leaves us in a position of having little to offer. It reveals our own need to be restored. We are not fixers of people or things. We are here trying to extend love and grace to others, the way it has been extended to us.

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships - so that we may live deep within our hearts. May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people - so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war - so that we may reach out our hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy. And may God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in the world - so that we can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor. Amen. (Franciscan Benediction)

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